I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A good historical fiction novel. Love the cover.

Historical fiction, and French history are some of my favorite things and I found all this in Allegiance to Alsace. It was a fascinating glimpse of Europe in the early 1800's. However, life for women in that era was a struggle and we watch as the protagonist finds her way through her journey.

Overall I liked this book, I did not love it.

The writing style was simplistic and abrupt. Almost like what I would expect from children's fiction, but the content was not child appropriate. It took some getting used to .

The history of Alsace was intriguing. My family originally heralds from that region, so this delves into a regions history that I find relevant and little known. My biggest complaint was the lack of character development. The main character is clearly meant to be a strong female heroine, but the development of her character is lacking a bit. The author describes her as formidable, but the between the lines development just isn't there.

As I said, I liked the book, I finished it, but I didn't love them.

1804 in the backdrop of Napoleon's victories over all countries he roars through we have Anna Liese daughter of a
wine maker. She is horrified at the progress of Napoleon and the damage he is causing throughout Europe but she
knows that dissention carries a heavy price as well. Discovering that her father is actually a spy and working
against Napoleon strengthens her resolve to do whatever she could in the smallest way possible to stop the tide
but her mother and Uncle are very much pro Napoleon and are only interested in bettering themselves in whatever
way possible.

When romance also happens in Anna Liese life she is very confused because Hans her lately found love is very much
in Napoleon's army and very much following his principles. It is only much later that she comes to know that he is
secretly woring with her father as well.

The story of romance on Anna Liese's part, her elopement with Hans ending with his death, her imprisonment as a
suspected spy and her later rescue and marriage set against the war waged by Napoleon also in the background of a
working winery added so many strands of interest to the story.

The history part of the story was also detailed and interesting especially when added to the wine industry and
the workings of a winery at the time.

An historical set during a lesser none period of European history when Napoleon Bonaparte is trying to take over Europe. Focuses on French and Germany. I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. I learned a lot and know I would to read more about the Napoleonic wars. Because of this one.

“But their dream wasn’t my dream.”

“The world felt so heavy from the secrets I carried.”

What sets Annaelise Theiss apart from other girls of the same age is that she struggles with her identity and her loyalty, mainly as a result of her upbringing, and to a lesser extent, a result of her political and societal influences of the time. The author explores this struggle.

Annaelise is born into a family with rich social and political ties including an interest in Enlightenment philosophy. As she grows up, the idea of loyalty is instilled in her; loyalty to her family, and to her country and its leader. As Napoleon is bolstering power across Germany and Prussia, it’s imperative that the Theiss family appear to be loyal citizens of Napoleon. Her mother displays allegiance to the new French Regime and her father is pulled towards the German philosophers and the American Founding Fathers. This mixed allegiance confuses 22-year-old Annaelise and she becomes desperate to make sense of who she is and what she should believe. It’s all put to the test when (1) she discovers her father attending a secret meeting in a cottage and (2) when she falls in love with someone who, on the surface, commands respect and loyalty, yet has revealed himself to be different than who he projects. Conflict stemming from her inner search for identity and loyalty propels the plot. How does she continue when what she knows, feels, and believes doesn’t align with what she understands and sees?

The stellar opening at Versailles with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the Ambassador to France, Benjamin Franklin, attending King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette’s lavish celebration was phenomenal! I got goosebumps when I read that Mozart was playing one of my favourite sonatas. What a great hook!

Having taught Canadian Social Studies Nine which has a focus on Napoleon and the Enlightenment, in addition to having visited and fallen in love with Alsace and Versailles, I was eager to read this novel. An avid reader of historical fiction, I appreciate and am drawn to stories where I learn something about the setting of the story, the historical characters, or the historical event. I appreciate an author who can bring emotion to the narrative as this is where I become engaged and connect what I do understand with what I don’t yet know. While Tice has meticulously researched and beautifully written this story, I didn’t become readily invested in it nor the characters because I couldn’t feel enough ‘heart’ or emotion. The fox hunts, due to the author’s experience, read as authentic, but I wasn’t interested in the hunts. However, I could appreciate the connections the author made between her characters and the society in which they belonged. While the accuracy of the music, food, political figures and mindset were phenomenal, I felt perhaps a bit too much extraneous detail was added to the plot because I found myself skimming and wishing for a tauter narrative. I did love the espionage and mystery and, as the plot thickened, I was more readily pulled into the story. I was excited to find an author who has brought something new to the table in historical fiction - something new to a field saturated with Resistance fighters, Bletchley Park girls and concentration camp experiences. Congratulations.

For those who enjoy ‘meaty’ historical fiction with generous attention to historical facts, this will be a great read. For a debut offering, Tice shows encouraging potential. Her inspiration was intriguing, her cover fantastic, and she’s increased anticipation with her announcement that there’s a sequel planned.

I was gifted this advance copy by Marta Anne Tice, BQB Publishing, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.